1. In the space below, describe the stasis at the beginning of the play NOT THE FILM of Real Women Have Curves. In other words, “Where are we?” “When is it (time, day, and year)?” “Who are the people involved?” “What is the dramatic situation in which the characters find themselves as the play unfolds?”
Depending on which version of the play you read, it was either set in the present (UGA Bookstore copy) or in 1987 (online pdf). The setting is a small sewing factory in East LA, California. And the onscreen characters are Ana, Carmen, Estela, Pancha, and Rosali. Offscreen characters are Mrs. Glitz, the radio show host, and other radio voices. The dramatic situation of the play is Estela is an undocumented immigrant and has to complete a large order of dresses or else the company will sue her and have her deported.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken in the play and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play?
The intrusion of the play is when it is revealed that Estela is undocumented and is being sued if she doesn't complete the order on time.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
The unique factor of the play is that this is the week that the order that Estela is going to be sued over is due.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
The dramatic question of the play is, "Will Estela be taken away by la migra?".
5. Use Ana, the central character, to answer the questions. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is, the dramatic actions that are taken by that character. Examine what Ana wants (NOTE: In Real Women Ana's wants seem to be in flux. They change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles.
Throughout the play Ana wants to be a writer. In the beginning, she just wants to get paid and pass the time until she can go to college. She also wants to make her coworkers and family more assertive of their rights and femininity. she wants to do something with her life, ie not work at the factory. But, towards the end of the play she just doesn't want to see her sister deported and understanding the struggles that all of them go through in their day to day lives. Obstacles include, Me vs society (la migra and the false body images of society) and Me vs Another Person (Glitz).
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Real Women Have Curves.
The most theatrical moments of the play are when all of the women strip down and appreciate themselves and then "la migra" show up.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Real Women. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
One image in the play is the exploding sewing machine. It symbolizes the frustration and seriousness of the situation that the women are in. A strong image in the play is the scars, stretch marks, and cellulite that cover the women's body. The are a testament to how hard it is to be a women and all of the struggles that they endure to be where they are. The final image used in the play is the empty mouse trap. It could symbolize how these women are trying to catch the American Dream and how elusive it is especially for immigrants. The fact that It seems that this is not the first time it came up empty is a telling on how preserverent these women are.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Real Women.
Themes in Real Women Have Curves are, Body image, family, immigration, struggle, isolation, feminism, oppression, sexuality, loneliness, resistance, and perseverance.
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Real Women? Is family redefined in this play? If so, how and why?
It is clear that all of these women, including Pancha and Rosali, have built up a family with each other. Family is the reason for resistance of Glitz and la migra, that solidarity between the women that they all come to understand. Family is not so much redefined in this play as simply extended to close friends that understand your pain and hardships.
India Hodo
1. In the space below, describe the stasis at the beginning of the play NOT THE FILM of Real Women Have Curves. In other words, “Where are we?” “When is it (time, day, and year)?” “Who are the people involved?” “What is the dramatic situation in which the characters find themselves as the play unfolds?”
Depending on which version of the play you read, it was either set in the present (UGA Bookstore copy) or in 1987 (online pdf). The setting is a small sewing factory in East LA, California. And the onscreen characters are Ana, Carmen, Estela, Pancha, and Rosali. Offscreen characters are Mrs. Glitz, the radio show host, and other radio voices. The dramatic situation of the play is Estela is an undocumented immigrant and has to complete a large order of dresses or else the company will sue her and have her deported.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken in the play and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play?
The intrusion of the play is when it is revealed that Estela is undocumented and is being sued if she doesn't complete the order on time.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
The unique factor of the play is that this is the week that the order that Estela is going to be sued over is due.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
The dramatic question of the play is, "Will Estela be taken away by la migra?".
5. Use Ana, the central character, to answer the questions. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is, the dramatic actions that are taken by that character. Examine what Ana wants (NOTE: In Real Women Ana's wants seem to be in flux. They change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles.
Throughout the play Ana wants to be a writer. In the beginning, she just wants to get paid and pass the time until she can go to college. She also wants to make her coworkers and family more assertive of their rights and femininity. she wants to do something with her life, ie not work at the factory. But, towards the end of the play she just doesn't want to see her sister deported and understanding the struggles that all of them go through in their day to day lives. Obstacles include, Me vs society (la migra and the false body images of society) and Me vs Another Person (Glitz).
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Real Women Have Curves.
The most theatrical moments of the play are when all of the women strip down and appreciate themselves and then "la migra" show up.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Real Women. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
One image in the play is the exploding sewing machine. It symbolizes the frustration and seriousness of the situation that the women are in. A strong image in the play is the scars, stretch marks, and cellulite that cover the women's body. The are a testament to how hard it is to be a women and all of the struggles that they endure to be where they are. The final image used in the play is the empty mouse trap. It could symbolize how these women are trying to catch the American Dream and how elusive it is especially for immigrants. The fact that It seems that this is not the first time it came up empty is a telling on how preserverent these women are.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Real Women.
Themes in Real Women Have Curves are, Body image, family, immigration, struggle, isolation, feminism, oppression, sexuality, loneliness, resistance, and perseverance.
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Real Women? Is family redefined in this play? If so, how and why?
It is clear that all of these women, including Pancha and Rosali, have built up a family with each other. Family is the reason for resistance of Glitz and la migra, that solidarity between the women that they all come to understand. Family is not so much redefined in this play as simply extended to close friends that understand your pain and hardships.